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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Follow up to last Chloe364 Question
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Follow up to last Chloe364 Question
by chloe364, Nov 16, 2007 08:03AM
Dr. Kevin, thank you for answering my question.
I am going to take your advice and get the colonoscopy, but I am very fearful and had a few more questions. Other than the bright blood, again the only symptoms are the VERY LIGHT amount of mucus, the balls of stool and the pain in the area you felt the simgscpy would have reached.
Please2nd doctor said again below
"GI Dr. #2 - scoped rectm, saw VERY small fissure on rectum, she thinks causing bleeding. Saw the intrnl hemoird, but too small for sympts. Said shape and mucus normal stuff, b/c sgmscpy clear. said brght blood not due to cancer, would be rectal or sigmoid area. Don’t needcolspy now. Should at 40. No need stomch endoscpy"
1. you agree with this doctor's assertion regarding the brightness of the blood and the location of cancer? It was the brightest blood you can get (almost translucent)?
2. If there was colon cancer in the ascending/traverse colon, would there be changes in stool shape as the stool is really shaped in the desc/sigmd region? Could mucus form on the outside of stool if the cancer was in the asc/traverse region or would the mucus come from the sigmoid/dsc?
3. I have read all your other posts on this subject matter and you stated that usually if you have colitis or IBS is if you have diahrrea with your symptoms, which I don't. mean that the only thing the symptoms from #2 above mean that it is colon cancer, is it even possible to be something else? Am I doomed?
4. I read on emedicine or something like that that the stage of your cancer does not relate to the type of symptoms that are or are not present. Do you agree or is it too late for me?
5. I have also read on 6, 7 different highly resected (Hopkins, etc.) that mucus isn't one of the symptoms of colon cancer, but you and people that have actually gotten the cancer these websites state that is one of their symptoms. Is mucus defining symptom?
Thank you much again, Dr. Kevin for your valuable time.
I am going to take your advice and get the colonoscopy, but I am very fearful and had a few more questions. Other than the bright blood, again the only symptoms are the VERY LIGHT amount of mucus, the balls of stool and the pain in the area you felt the simgscpy would have reached.
Please2nd doctor said again below
"GI Dr. #2 - scoped rectm, saw VERY small fissure on rectum, she thinks causing bleeding. Saw the intrnl hemoird, but too small for sympts. Said shape and mucus normal stuff, b/c sgmscpy clear. said brght blood not due to cancer, would be rectal or sigmoid area. Don’t needcolspy now. Should at 40. No need stomch endoscpy"
1. you agree with this doctor's assertion regarding the brightness of the blood and the location of cancer? It was the brightest blood you can get (almost translucent)?
2. If there was colon cancer in the ascending/traverse colon, would there be changes in stool shape as the stool is really shaped in the desc/sigmd region? Could mucus form on the outside of stool if the cancer was in the asc/traverse region or would the mucus come from the sigmoid/dsc?
3. I have read all your other posts on this subject matter and you stated that usually if you have colitis or IBS is if you have diahrrea with your symptoms, which I don't. mean that the only thing the symptoms from #2 above mean that it is colon cancer, is it even possible to be something else? Am I doomed?
4. I read on emedicine or something like that that the stage of your cancer does not relate to the type of symptoms that are or are not present. Do you agree or is it too late for me?
5. I have also read on 6, 7 different highly resected (Hopkins, etc.) that mucus isn't one of the symptoms of colon cancer, but you and people that have actually gotten the cancer these websites state that is one of their symptoms. Is mucus defining symptom?
Thank you much again, Dr. Kevin for your valuable time.
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Nov 16, 2007 07:06PM
, Nov 16, 2007 07:06PM
Again, I can't make specific recommendations without personal evaluation.
1) The most common cause of bright red blood would be hemorrhoids. However, the colonoscopy is a more comprehensive test to rule out cancer..
2) Yes, it is possible for colon cancer in the ascending or transverse colon to affect stool shape. Mucous in the stool is not a common symptom of cancer however.
3) Yes, it is true that diarrhea can be associated with IBS or inflammatory bowel. Mucous in the stool can be caused by chronic pancreatitis, celiac disease, or malabsorption syndromes.
4) True, the stage of cancer may not be associated with the symptoms. The colonoscopy would be the most comprehensive test to rule this out.
5) No, mucous is not a defining symptom. I agree that mucous is not a common symptom of colon cancer.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patients education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com
1) The most common cause of bright red blood would be hemorrhoids. However, the colonoscopy is a more comprehensive test to rule out cancer..
2) Yes, it is possible for colon cancer in the ascending or transverse colon to affect stool shape. Mucous in the stool is not a common symptom of cancer however.
3) Yes, it is true that diarrhea can be associated with IBS or inflammatory bowel. Mucous in the stool can be caused by chronic pancreatitis, celiac disease, or malabsorption syndromes.
4) True, the stage of cancer may not be associated with the symptoms. The colonoscopy would be the most comprehensive test to rule this out.
5) No, mucous is not a defining symptom. I agree that mucous is not a common symptom of colon cancer.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patients education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com
